Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to February 28, 2011 and at a 0 percent rating on or after that date. The Board found no basis for an increased rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, including as due to an in-service head injury sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of whether this condition is related to his military service remains under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use both lower extremities without aid.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric test results from April 2011 show level I hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine were denied. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to correspond to a noncompensable evaluation, while his low back disability did not warrant an increase beyond the initial 10 percent assigned.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's VA medical records from 1985 to 2002. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to April 9, 2011 and at least 10 percent from that date. The Veteran's service-connected left tympanic membrane perforation does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise during his time as a gun crew member on a Navy destroyer. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a colloid cyst of the third ventricle of the brain and adverse reactions to penicillin and Keflin, as well as an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and that the Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure were not credible.

The Board has determined that additional attempts must be made to obtain missing service records, including those from the Veteran's reserve and National Guard service. The appeal is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss have been granted initial ratings of 20 percent each, effective November 7, 2000.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus claims. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for an examination by a VA otolaryngologist. The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss will be addressed.